Fiscal impact reports (FIRs) are prepared by the Legislative Finance Committee (LFC) for standing finance
committees of the Legislature. LFC does not assume responsibility for the accuracy of these reports if they
are used for other purposes.
F I S C A L I M P A C T R E P O R T
SPONSOR Thomson
LAST UPDATED
ORIGINAL DATE 1/30/2025
SHORT TITLE
Audiology & Speech-Language Pathology
Compact
BILL
NUMBER House Bill 79
ANALYST Hanika-Ortiz
ESTIMATED ADDITIONAL OPERATING BUDGET IMPACT*
(dollars in thousands)
Agency/Program
FY25 FY26 FY27
3 Year
Total Cost
Recurring or
Nonrecurring
Fund
Affected
RLD
No fiscal
impact
$56.0 $16.0 $72.0 Recurring
Speech/Language
/Hearing Fund
Parentheses ( ) indicate expenditure decreases.
*Amounts reflect most recent analysis of this legislation.
Duplicates Senate Bill 104
Sources of Information
LFC Files
Agency Analysis Received From
Veterans’ Services Department (VSD)
Department of Military Affairs (DMA)
Department of Health (DOH)
Regulation and Licensing Department (RLD)
New Mexico Medical Board (NMMB), for duplicate SB104
University of New Mexico (UNM), for duplicate SB104
Commission for Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing (CDHH), for duplicate SB104
SUMMARY
Synopsis of House Bill 79
House Bill 79 (HB79) proposes to enter New Mexico into the Audiology and Speech-Language
Pathology Interstate Compact (ASLP Compact).
Sections 1 and 2 state the objectives of the ASLP Compact to include mutual recognition of other
member state licenses; enhancing the exchange of licensure, investigative and disciplinary
information among member states; allowing a remote state to hold a provider of services with a
compact privilege in that state accountable to that state's practice standards; and allowing for the
use of telehealth technology to facilitate increased access to speech-language pathology services.
Section 3 is the definitions section for terms such as “home state” to mean the licensee’s primary
state of residence; “member state” to mean a state that has enacted the compact; “remote state” to
mean a member state other than the home state where a licensee is seeking licensure; and House Bill 79 – Page 2
“telehealth” to mean the use of technology to deliver these services from a distance.
Section 4 lays out requirements for state participation. Member states must recognize licenses
issued by other member states; require applicants to submit to a federal background check;
determine whether applicants have any adverse actions on their licensure record; require
applicants to obtain licensure in their home state; grant compact privileges to qualified licensees
holding a valid license in another state; and recognize the right to practice in a member state via
telehealth. Section 4 also requires audiologists seeking to practice to meet certain criteria, such as
meeting certain educational requirements and holding an active, unencumbered license. Member
states may grant a single state license without granting a compact privilege, may charge a fee for
granting a compact privilege, and must comply with rules of the commission.
Section 5 provides the basis upon which compact privileges may be exercised by licensees, and
how member states must monitor and regulate those licensees with compact privileges. If a
licensee moves to a non-member state, the license is converted to a single state license, valid
only in the former member state, and the privilege to practice in any member state is deactivated.
Section 6 allows an audiologist or speech-language pathologist to practice via telehealth.
Section 7 allows military licensees to retain their home state designation while on active duty.
Section 8 sets out the criteria and authority upon which a remote state may impose adverse
actions against a privilege to practice in a member state, authorizes joint investigation, and
requires member states to prioritize addressing adverse conduct with its own state laws to
determine action. All state actions taken must be reported to the administrator of the data system
for the compact.
Section 9 lays out the structure and governance of the ASLP Compact’s commission
(commission). Acknowledgment is made that nothing in the compact shall be construed to be a
waiver of the sovereign immunity of each compact state. Each compact state is also allotted two
delegates: one audiologist and one speech-language pathologist to serve on the commission.
The remaining sections address: qualified immunity, defense and indemnification of commission
delegates and employees (Section 10); the data system provided by the commission (Section 11);
rulemaking powers of the commission (Section 12); disagreements between states, enforcing
rules of the compact, addressing states in default, and relief available (Section 13); date of
implementation (Section 14); construction and severability (Section 15); and binding effect of
laws (Section 16).
The effective date of this bill is July 1, 2025.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS
New Mexico has a Speech-Language Pathology, Audiology, and Hearing Aid Dispensing
Practices Board (Board) that facilitates and oversees licensing of these practitioners. According
to the New Mexico Commission for Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing, nothing in the bill indicates a
necessary change to the current operations of the board that would increase costs with the
exception of the required background check in Section 4. According to the Board webpage, there
is not currently a requirement for a background check. This addition of background checks may House Bill 79 – Page 3
require additional resources, but this may be a matter of adjusting fees to offset any of those
costs.
As of December 2024, the Legislative Finance Committee’s Cash Balance Report shows a
healthy amount of $881 thousand in the Speech/Language Path/Hearing Board fund.
RLD estimates that contracting fees to implement changes to its NM Plus licensing system to be
about $40 thousand in FY26. There will also be minimal expenses related to rulemaking
processes, delegates serving on the commission, and for taking adverse action against a licensee
.
SIGNIFICANT ISSUES
According to the New Mexico Commission for Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing, entering the compact
would improve continuity of care for a person with a hearing loss or need for speech related
services, improve access to providers, and enable telehealth services with the provider of choice
regardless of residence. Hearing loss impacts 1 in 10 people worldwide. Screening and detection
are a critical part of the care needed when there is a suspected hearing loss. Continued care can
improve outcomes for a person with hearing loss over their lifetime. The benefits can mean
offsetting cognitive decline, reducing depression, and addressing the increased risk of dementia.
To join a compact, a state must enact compact model legislation via its legislative process. The
ASLP Compact is not yet issuing compact privileges. In 2024, the commission began creating a
data system to receive applications, provide interstate data communications, and issue compact
privileges. The ASLP commission will begin issuing compact privileges in the summer of 2025.
ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS
A rule-making process and public hearing will need to be completed during 2025.
CONFLICT, DUPLICATION, COMPANIONSHIP, RELATIONSHIP
Duplicates Senate Bill 104. Similar to prior year bills: House Bill 391 (2023) and House Bill 210
(2021)
OTHER SUBSTANT IVE ISSUES
New Mexico faces shortages of virtually every type of healthcare practitioner. Interstate
compacts may be partial solutions to this serious problem, easing movement of practitioners into
the state or allowing them to practice part-time and/or via telehealth in the state of their choice.
As of 2024, 34 states have adopted the Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology Interstate
Compact, according to the Audiology and Speech-Language Compact commission
(aslpcompact.com).
AHO/hj/SL2